gravel / dough
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gravel
A building material made up of small, round stones that are larger than sand. It is often used for paths, in concrete, or as a filter layer.
Die Einfahrt zu unserem Haus ist mit feinem Kies bedeckt.
The driveway to our house is covered with fine gravel.
dough
A colloquial, somewhat outdated term for money.
Ohne den nötigen Kies kannst du dir so ein teures Auto nicht leisten.
Without the necessary dough, you can't afford such an expensive car.
Whether 'Kies' (gravel/dough) means stones or money is revealed by the context. If people are talking about construction work, garden paths, or beaches, it is about stones. If it is about buying, costs, or wealth, it colloquially means money.
Für den neuen Gartenweg brauchen wir noch drei Säcke Kies.
We still need three bags of gravel for the new garden path.
In the meaning 'stones', 'Kies' (gravel) is a mass noun, similar to 'Sand' (sand) or 'Wasser' (water). It is therefore usually used in the singular and often without an article when talking about the material in general.
Der LKW hat eine große Ladung Kies geliefert.
The truck delivered a large load of gravel.
The use of 'Kies' (dough) for money is colloquial and is used rather less often today. However, you can still find it in some expressions or when someone deliberately wants to sound casual.
Er hat ordentlich Kies mit seiner neuen Geschäftsidee gemacht.
He made a good amount of dough with his new business idea.
coal
Kohle and Kies can both mean money in colloquial language. Kohle is much more common in everyday use today, while Kies may sound somewhat outdated or regional. Normally use Kohle; Kies is more appropriate when this older or regional flavor is intended.
Für die Reparatur meines Fahrrads fehlt mir noch etwas Kies.
I still need some dough to repair my bicycle.
Für die Reparatur meines Fahrrads fehlt mir noch etwas Kohle.
I still need some cash to repair my bicycle.
